Department
of Buildings and Department of Environmental Protection Announce
the Merger of Boiler Filings

Synchronization
of Reporting Requirements Expected to Ease Process for Building
Owners

Department of Buildings’ Commissioner Patricia J. Lancaster,
FAIA, and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner
Emily Lloyd announced the merger of their agencies’ boiler
report filing processes. The new filing procedures will take effect
on September 6, 2005. The merger of the two filings will simplify
the process for building owners, licensed plumbers, licensed oil
burner installers and the insurance industry personnel who perform
boiler inspections.

Currently, Buildings requires the submission of annual boiler
inspection reports under Local Law 62 of 1991 by December 31st
of each year. This law requires owners of boilers that heat six
or more residential units, units in commercial areas, and units
in mixed-use spaces to file annual inspection reports with the
Department.

DEP requires triennial boiler filings for air quality monitoring
purposes but its submission requirement is on the anniversary date
of the original filing, creating double work for those who must
file with both agencies. The variations in requirements and processes
cause confusion and unnecessary burdens on those owners who must
file with both agencies. Furthermore, each agency tracks boilers
in its own independent database; consequently, correlating filing
status is difficult and time-consuming.

The departments expect the joint project to be performed in multiple
phases. The first phase, to be launched in September 2005, addresses
the problem from the applicant's point of view. The agencies will
provide a single application intake center at the Buildings Department
where the two filings will be submitted on one form designed to
capture the data required by each agency.

Commissioner Lancaster said: “Through the front-end merger
of the boiler filing processes, Buildings and DEP are able to make
it easier and faster to file. It is a convoluted customer service
issue that has needed resolution for years. I want to thank Commissioner
Lloyd and her staff for their cooperation in helping to get this
important initiative off the ground.”

Commissioner Lloyd stated: “This is another example of
the Bloomberg Administration working to eliminate burdensome regulations
for New Yorkers. This move will help streamline the process for
thousands of hardworking businesspeople and property owners who
need to file vital information with the City.”

The Rent Stabilization Association (RSA) added its support for
the merger. RSA President, Joseph Strasburg, said, “RSA represents
25,000 small residential building owners throughout the five boroughs
and our members will benefit tremendously by the elimination of
the dual filings at both agencies. The streamlined process is further
proof that the Bloomberg Administration means business when it
comes to making it easier to work with the City of New York.”

The second phase of the project involves extensive analysis and
changes to existing procedures, databases, applications, and staffing.
Additional proposed changes would include aligning the two filing
periods and normalizing the fee structure.